Just when you thought Tea Party Congressman Steve King (R. IA-4) couldn't get any worse, he then proves us wrong:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) is calling for comprehensive immigration reform to be put on hold in light of Monday’s bombing at the Boston Marathon, citing speculation (since deemed misplaced) that the attacker was a student from Saudi Arabia.
“Some of the speculation that has come out is that yes, it was a foreign national and, speculating here, that it was potentially a person on a student visa,” King told National Review. “If that’s the case, then we need to take a look at the big picture.”
He added that “we need to be ever vigilant,” and that security should be the focus right now, not a path to legalization. “If we can’t background-check people that are coming from Saudi Arabia, how do we think we are going to background check the 11 to 20 million people that are here from who knows where?”
King has long been critical of loosening restrictions on immigration. Although he has said he agrees with the “very broad guidelines” laid out by a group of senators in January, he has repeatedly argued that border security should be a primary concern and that we should be bringing in only the most valuable immigrants. (In one appearance he compared the immigration process to choosing “the pick of the litter” among hunting dogs, a comparison that angered many Hispanic groups). - Washington Post, 4/16/13
Yep, King is actually trying to tie immigration reform to a national tragedy. He's also using the Boston Marathon Bombing as a way to scare Republicans out of supporting the Gang of 8's bipartisan comprehensive immigration plan. King spoke about how embracing immigration reform would be disastrous for the GOP:
http://www.omaha.com/...
During his floor speech Thursday, King suggested his fellow Republicans would be making a mistake in agreeing to a bipartisan immigration deal.
“I understand the political motivation of the people on the other side of the aisle: expand the dependency class, expand those who can vote for those who want to expand the dependency class. I understand those motives. They are not good motives. They undermine American exceptionalism, but I understand them,” he said.
“On our side of the aisle, I don't understand — and I think it's because of our own people don't have this figured out.”
In an interview with The World-Herald, King suggested many of his colleagues don't remember the lessons of the 1986 immigration law, which he said was one of the few times then-President Ronald Reagan let him down.
He said about half of the GOP conference has been on Capitol Hill for 28 months or less. He suggested they will rethink their stance once they feel the inevitable heat from many of their constituents.
“I'm troubled for the destiny of our country and I'm troubled by the level of apparent acceptance that seems to have emerged among my Republican colleagues'' for amnesty, King said. - Omaha World-Herald Bureau, 4/14/13
Yep, he truly is awful, isn't he? By the way, King is coming closer to making a decision about running for Senator Tom Harkin's (D. IA) seat but Iowa GOP operative, Dan Gross, thinks he might pass on the race:
http://thegazette.com/...
Although King said on Iowa Public Television’s Iowa Press last week that the odds were “better than 50-50” he would run, Gross used the same venue to throw cold water on the likelihood of a King-Braley match-up.
“I know he was here last week indicating that he is analyzing it,” Gross said on the public affairs show that airs at 7:30 p.m. Friday and noon Sunday on IPTV as well as 8:30 a.m. Saturday on IPTV World. “Usually when I’ve worked with politicians over the years, when they’re analyzing something they’re usually trying to figure out how not to do it, because usually their gut tells them when they’re going to do it.”
King has fueled speculation about a Senate run with recent speaking engagements outside his districts, such as stops in Jones and Scott counties in Eastern Iowa last weekend.
However, Gross’ breakdown is consistent with Iowa State University political science Professor Steffen Schmidt’s analysis that the longer it takes King to make up his mind about the race the likelihood of him running decreases. - The Gazette, 4/12/13
Gross might be right about that but it could also be wishful thinking. The GOP establishment doesn't want King to run because he would be a disaster and today's comments only hurt King's chances of winning. Plus unlike his potential opponent, Congressman Bruce Braley (D. IA-1), King didn't have a stellar fundraising quarter:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/...
Republican U.S. Rep. Steve King raised just over $87,000 in campaign cash during the first quarter of this year. That will likely be interpreted that as too low a number for someone serious about a U.S. Senate bid.
The Democrat who has already declared he's after Iowa's soon-to-be open Senate seat, U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, brought in 12 times as much in the same period, federal records filed on Monday show. Braley's contributions totaled $1.07 million.
King is at the center of national speculation about who will step forward on the Republican side to try to claim the seat that retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin will leave open in 2014. Other Republicans in Iowa have said they're interested, but out of respect for King, they won't declare a candidacy until he declares his intentions.
But there's little evidence in his first-quarter filing that would suggest King is quietly amassing money or plotting a run for statewide office, Democratic and GOP strategists in Iowa said. However, he could always switch gears and quickly raise big money, they said.
King, after asking supporters for money to help him ward off GOP forces he said were crusading against him, including power player Karl Rove, brought in $87,199 during the first three months of 2013, Federal Election Commission records show. - Des Moines Register, 4/16/13
FYI, Braley doesn't like the chained CPI or Obama's budget either:
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/...
Democratic U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley called it immoral to balance the budget on the backs of seniors and disabled people. Under Obama’s budget, an Iowan who lives to age 85 would see a 9.7 percent reduction in what they receive from Social Security over their lifetime, he said.
“There are a host of other ways we can address that problem … without taking money out of the hands of Iowans,” Braley told Iowa reporters on his conference call this morning.
Braley also disapproves of Obama’s proposal for government student loans, saying it would “yield really high burdens on students who are trying to get a college education.” - Des Moines Register, 4/10/13
If you would like to learn more or get involved with Barley's campaign, you can do so here:
http://www.brucebraley.com/